August 29, 2026
Understanding Francophone Mobility in 5 minutes
Francophone Mobility lets a Canadian employer outside Quebec hire a French-speaking worker from abroad without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It is one of the simplest and fastest ways to recruit internationally, and it is still little known among employers. Here are the essentials in five minutes.
At a glance
No LMIA: no mandatory advertising and no need to prove that no Canadian was available.
Almost every job: all levels of the National Occupational Classification (TEER 0 to 5), except primary agriculture jobs at TEER 4 and 5.
Intermediate French: the worker must show Canadian Language Benchmark level 5 (NCLC 5) in speaking and listening.
Outside Quebec: the job must be in one of the other 9 provinces or 3 territories.
$230 government fee for the employer.
What you avoid: the LMIA
To hire a foreign worker, most employers must obtain an LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada. That means advertising the job, proving recruitment efforts in Canada and paying a $1,000 fee per position, before the worker can even apply for a permit. Francophone Mobility removes that step.
Who can you hire?
A worker who speaks French at an intermediate level or higher and has a job offer from you for an eligible position. They can come from any country: France, Belgium, Switzerland, Africa, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean… What matters is their French and their experience in the trade.
The employer's steps
Find the right candidate and check that they meet the criteria.
Submit the job offer in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Employer Portal, using exemption code C16.
Pay the $230 compliance fee.
Give the candidate the offer of employment number. They then apply for their work permit.
With a partner like JIK & PARTNERS, sourcing, shortlisting and file coordination are taken care of. The work permit is handled by a partner Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC).
How long does it take?
The timeline depends mostly on IRCC's work permit processing, which varies by the candidate's country. In practice, plan on 10 to 14 weeks from signature to first day: about 4 weeks of shortlisting and interviews, then 6 to 10 weeks for the permit.
Your obligations as an employer
The wage, hours and duties in the offer must match the actual job. IRCC can check that employers honour the conditions they stated. A well-prepared hire, with a clear and realistic offer, keeps you on safe ground.
Why now?
The Government of Canada wants to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec: its targets are 9% of new permanent residents in 2026, 9.5% in 2027 and 10.5% in 2028, and it has committed to reaching 12% by 2029. For employers, that means a well-supported program and candidates encouraged to settle for the long term.
Is your business eligible?
A first 20-minute conversation is enough to check whether Francophone Mobility fits your positions. Assess my hiring needs
Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Francophone Mobility pages and appearance before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, April 2026). Information current as of October 2026.